Below is Part 3 of Yamaha’s “Journey Further” video series that focuses on the touring needs of Star cruiser owners. Without much difficulty, reading between the lines you can see that the June 5 model introduction will involve a tourer with several new features, including, perhaps, a reverse gear and extensive media elements (including, but not limited to, Bluetooth). Heated seats and cruise control would also seem likely.
The four-headlight image above is about the only indication of the new model’s looks. Here is the press release with information on the June 5 unveiling, followed by the video.
CYPRESS, Calif. – May 9, 2017 – Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, today introduced a new “Journey Further” video via www.yamahamotorsports.com and their social media channels that announces an upcoming live internet unveil of an all-new motorcycle model. As the third installment in a four-part series, the video provides a welcome confirmation for a select group of Yamaha owners who received exclusive early access to the first two installments amidst speculation for a new model launch.
Featuring several long-time Yamaha motorcycle owners, the “Journey Further” video series highlights the exhilaration experienced by riders while touring on two wheels in “Part One,” and further expands on the exceptional emotional and important functional aspects of touring in “Part Two.”
The video introduced today, “Journey Further – Part Three,” moves beyond storied tributes and captures commentary related to the features most desired for touring motorcycle models.
“Everyone at Yamaha is very excited about what the future holds for all motorcycle riders who choose to experience the journey of a lifetime on two wheels, and we are looking forward to introducing a new model that embodies this spirit,” said Yamaha Motorcycle Product Line Manager, Derek Brooks. “We invite you to join us for the countdown to June 5th as we prepare to journey further.”
The unveiling of this new motorcycle model will take place during the opening ceremonies at the upcoming Americade Rally in Lake George, New York, on Monday, June 5th, 2017, at 7:00 p.m. EDT, and a live internet video feed will be available at https://www.yamahamotorsports.com/transcontinental-touring. Social media coverage from the event will reference the hashtag #JourneyFurther.
To view the “Journey Further” videos, and learn more about the upcoming all-new model launch, please click the following link:
https://www.yamahamotorsports.com/transcontinental-touring
See more of MD’s great photography:
I love the fact we have a new Yamaha tour bike coming out, Its about time. My two sense may not count for anything but…., Air-cooled really? Why go back to that….. I personally think they copied a goldwing platform, lay them side by side. I have yet to see one in person but they look like a great bike. Cant wait to take it for a test ride.
I can’t believe nobody’s watched the intro and come here already to post their opinions. (Hint: It’s an air-cooled V-twin touring bike… ) I can’t wait to hear the comments! LOL!
Excited about the hoop-la. Keep the weight down. Maybe, an alloy frame. Shaft drive will be nice, belt if necessary. Oil cooling will be handy. It’ll be many months before we see it here in Australia. Easy access to rear shocks is essential. Keep the tech low. Will it have inertia reacting rear brake lights to mitigate rear end impacts? Adjustable height/quick release screen will be handy too? You Yanks get all the good toys. Enjoy.
I’m a little late to the dance but here are my comments from Ontario. i still drive my 1984 Yamaha Venture Royale I purchased new in 85′. Listen to my mp3 through the old cassette deck;0. I enjoy riding that bike now more than when I first purchased it and kept in good shape. I agree with a lot of the comments. The new dream bike would also have a adjustable windscreen. Driving through your beautiful Smoky Mountains can be tough when the windscreen is all fogged up. A toned down VMax engine is in my bike so that would be a must to have. I hope they get it right and I might be tempted to upgrade after 33 years on the same bike, 148 km
The front fairing with the four headlight array looks pretty good in the pictures released so far. I am hoping for a v-4 powerplant , and large gas tank, with an overall weight under 800 lbs. As mentioned in their teaser videos they are including fuel injection, stereo, gps, abs, traction control, heated stuff, and maybe even a reverse. yamaha makes darn fine bikes.
I owned a 2009 RS Venture, loved it, though a little underpowered. Currently have a 2014 Stratoliner. I also hate these teaser videos, you get amped up for the reveal, and if afterwards you are dead set on buying one, another 6 months or more until you see them on the dealer floors. When I first saw the new XDIAVEL S I was dead set on buying it on looks alone, though not attractive to some, I loved it, but by the time they finally arrived I was over it and bought something else.
120ci Pushrod V-Twin. 127 HP, 143 Lb/Ft Torque at the crank. You read it hear first… Don’t ask me how I know, I just know…
We Americans are so weak now! We can’t even enjoy a motorcycle release. Bring it Yamaha! We bash Harley, Honda and don’t even appreciate that a new product will bring jobs and income to the American people. I personally enjoy and hope it’s a 113 Star V -Twin. Why? It’s my personal preference. I love Honda and Harley owed both but as a tall large man they are too small! The Stratoliner just fits me. But my guess is half the the so called men of today can’t understand that. They’d have me wearing brand name shoes and pants in a smaller size just because everyone else is, despite I’d look ridiculous and uncomfortable. And if you haven’t served in the Armed Forces. Your opinion means nothing as a man!, said the 3rd generation Soldier. Lol.
A real breakthrough…a heavy cruiser equipped with a radio, heated backrest and reverse gear. Don’t lose any sleep waiting for June 5th.
Yamaha has been more on target than the other Japanese manufactures of late and the Goldwing 1800 is what, 16 years old now? If they bring out a good product it might do well, that is if the new Wing doesn’t knock the wind from its sails.
+1
The 2017 Goldwing is less than a year old.
2017 Golding… The best 2001 touring bike that you can buy for 2017 prices!
I agree that Yamaha has been the leader, and Honda has fallen woefully behind. Especially in full-dress touring. The Gold Wing is WAY overdue for a major overhaul. I personally think they should resist the urge to make it bigger. If they make it much larger, they may as well put another pair of wheels on it and call it an Accord. I don’t know why they don’t put a V4 engine in it and downsize a bit. They can make it just as comfortable, and drop a couple of hundred pounds in the bargain.
I think that flat six is as important to the Goldwing now as a vtwin is to H-D. The people that buy those massive touring rigs probably don’t care much about the weight, anyway.
Do you mean they should bring back the ST1300? If so, I agree.
Gary, what does Yamaha have to offer then even comes close to the GL1800? Have you ridden a GL1800?
Yamaha has nothing that even comes close. The torquey silky smooth six, tough too beat. And let me tell you the Gold wing handles well too. And I have seen them with over 200K miles on them too.
Exactly. Most people still see the Goldwing as the touring leader. It is still the best at that regardless of how long it’s been the best.
I have owned three GL bikes over the years. A ’75 GL 1000 and two GL 1100s. All great bikes. And I’ve ridden the flat six.
I respect the engineering elegance of the GL engine. But I stand by my original comment. The bike is long overdue for a rethink. And a downsize.
There was a time when Honda led the pack in innovation. Hell, the GL series was revolutionary when it was launched. No one had ever seen something so smooth and reliable.
Now it’s time to bring back the innovation and to think outside the box. Something like a V4 would be just the ticket.
While I agree that Honda needs to step up their game, I seriously doubt they’ll abandon the flat-6 platform for the Wing. It has been the stalwart of the GL series since 1988.
Having owned an ’07 GL1800 my take way was this: 1) Electric adjust windscreen should be standard. 2) How about some decent suspension?! Why the Hell should I have to spend $3k for a Traxxion “full monty” on a bike that I already spent $25k on?!! My stock rear shock was shagged out after 15k miles. 3) Needs a 6th gear to bring down RPM’s at 70+ MPH. It’s not like that 1832-cc lump can’t turn it! And #4… More ground clearance! The foot pegs grind way too easily on the 1800-IMO. My GL1200 had a better lean angle.
I’m thinking there will be two bikes. I was reading elsewhere that there will also be an August reveal. Based on the videos, I’m thinking there will be a V-4 Goldwing type platformed revealed next month and a revised 1900 v-twin Stratoliner type bike coming later this year. I just hope they don’t try too hard on the styling and alienate potential buyers. They got the looks right on the Road Star but the 1900s were a bit polarizing.
The Roadliner and Stratoliner are artwork compared to the tractor-trailers.
Definitely some dirt on your specs!
With that rapidly aging American population which has a poor diet, no healthcare, hugely overweight, and thin skinned to boot I’d say it’s a three in tandem seat with a buffet sidecar option. Maybe even a basket off one of those Walmart lard buggies the store loans out for the enabled disabled.
Get back to me when your cognitive dissonance checks your reality.
yep you jumped right over the thin skinned bit. all in fun
Oops. Perhaps the Huffington Post is where you meant to respond.
lol leg pulling but maybe I have a future there???? all in fun
That would imply the comment was funny. Not just unusual but humorous.
This might prove interesting. Will Yamaha recycle the even bigger VMAX motor, or perhaps the 113 CI from the now defunct Raider? Like before Yamaha should only do new bike intro’s with a clown leading the parade, almost always goofy looking either in complete exercise or bits and pieces of poorly thought out add ons.
The heavyweight touring market is tough and Yamaha will need to be fantastic or else. With Indian, Harley-Davidson, and the golden boy of touring the GL 1800 already filling the floors. But until I see the pictures I guess I will be unable to judge, but somehow I’m already laughing.
Wow! This comment section reminds me so much of reality tv. Thats television, not tranny. Get my Shiner Bock and a bowl of popcorn and I’m ready to laugh my ass off. We could be talking about a Saturn 5 and it would turn into a Honda and Harley bashing thread and most haven’t ridden the latter, yet they are experts. Now I really couldn’t care less about Yamaha. But we know nothing about the bike and we’re already beating them up. Benefit of the doubt? Any one heard of it? Chances are if history is any indication, yes it probably won’t live up to the hype. But no one knows for sure. Some one further down mentioned the Kawasaki H2. Talk about disappointment! Cycle World tested it at Losail and clocked 187 down the front straight. Thats it? A supercharged 1000cc I4 that is no faster than a naturally aspirated 1000cc superbike for only $10000 more. What a bargain. And yet people think its spectacular. Keep it coming boys. I’ll just grab another beer. Salute!
Speaking of LMAO, first you said:
“We could be talking about a Saturn 5 and it would turn into a Honda and Harley bashing thread and most haven’t ridden the latter, yet they are experts.”
And then you said:
“Now I really couldn’t care less about Yamaha.”
Pot, meet kettle. LMAO!
First of all,I did make both remarks. Very observant of you and also stating the obvious. Don’t you just love paste and cut? I stand by the first. Most, not all, hate H-D on this thread and I would bet most of those have no on hands experience with the brand. Your girlfriends cousins next door neighbor owning one doesn’t count. As far as Yamaha goes, I don’t like the brand, never have. And yes, I have ridden a Yamaha. If I know someone that owns one, I’ll give them a hard time but I don’t them call them names or degrade them or anything of the like. After all, its their choice what they ride regardless if you think its a good idea or not. Pot meet kettle. Funny.
Just yankin’ yer chain, bro. And I happen to like Harleys. Especially the new Road King.
Just having a little fun myself. Hell, its all good. We all ride and thats what its all about, right? I have a new Road King and all I can say is it pulls like a freight train. And weighs about as much! HA HA. The difference between it and the Twin Cam motor is like night and day. It runs that good.
I have never been impressed with freight train acceleration.
^ Now that’s funny…
The H2R did live up to the hype, by the way.
I have not yet seen a single H2 on the street. I did see a heavily discounted one on the sales floor (probably still there).
You are one of the few people that think that. The rest of us see an overweight, overpriced “hey-look-what-we-did” halo bike.
The motorcycle equivalent of fake tits.
I fondly remember the Yamaha Venture of the 1980s. It was a real gold Wing competitor with a V4. A fun bike with some V4 spirit. Not as fat and wallowy as a GW.
Another big heavy cruiser? ZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz………..
Yea so good……….. the GoldWing is still the king of touring. The Venture was a bottle rocket with many faults. But at least I know who that one fan is. LOL
just hope its something interesting.. by which I mean NOT another low riding vtwin touring/cruiser.
I said hope- not expect.
massaging seats….that would make the journey
Throw enough stuff at the wall, and something is sure to stick.
Still waiting fot FJ (or TracerGP) 10 based on FZ-10 which I bet is coming next year. Hopefully Yamaha will not make it repulsive looking like the FZ-10
Couldn’t care less about another anonymous cruiser!
I don’t think an FJ10 is coming. The FZ10 chassis isn’t the best suited. Also, Yamaha has other existing options. They won’t want to cannibalize their own line.
I predict a “Royal Star” part duex. V4 V-Max engine, this time with some stomp.
re: “V4 V-Max engine, this time with some stomp”
by “stomp” do you mean cranked and cammed big bang style for V-twin “good vibrations”…? talk to me Goose.
btw speaking of Goose, anybody got a sit-rep ON Goose…? (Norm uploads APB to local authorities)
You know, stomp. The last Royal Star didn’t get near enough of the Mighty Max’s stomp.
re: “You know, stomp.”
oh okay, good.
Lol. The Max is so mighty, it does stomp like butter.
I would like to see a large displacement full size touring bike. If I were Yamaha I wouldn’t try to copy Indian or Harley. No Japanese manufacturer has been able to impact the heavy cruiser markets. Harley’s market share is still pretty strong and Indian is probably the only manufacturer that has eroded any of this market.
I would like to see a big bore touring bike, v4 or big i4. A gt1600 knockoff would be cool. Keep it less than $20k and see what happens. The FJR isn’t really comparable to a k16 or even an RT.
It needs 150 hp and 130 ft lbs torque. Big luggage capacity, Bluetooth, cruise……
Hoping also for big inline 4 or big V4 also anything but a V Twin
Don’t stop… Believe-en..
Hold on to that feeling…
(Journey)
Better just hope these riders don’t end up with a Wheel In The Sky.
I bet this is a trike with tilting wheels. Yamaha has the guts to do it, and already has the FJ1300 anyway.
I think it is so cute how they think those bikes are powerful and nimble.
Seems like a VMAX engine stuffed into a large touring platform akin to a K1600GT would make for a great touring bike. But then, I imagine the Road Glide or Road King or whatever H-D’s touring model is called is probably the most popular touring bike in these parts, so I can’t really blame Yamaha for going with something that is likely going to be underpowered, cumbersome and garish.
Underpowered, cumbersome
Just different ways of saying powerful and nimble?
It’s all relative I guess. Maybe powerful and nimble compared to a Harley or F-250.
Im pretty sure its a cruiser.
So you might as well remove this article since you only post moto gp and non cruiser type posts anyways.
Motorcycle Daily picked a cruiser as their motorcycle of the year not all that long ago. Cruisers get love here, too. Just no so much in the comments section.
Sic em’ Jeremy…
I love cruisers and own a Road King. And it seems MD seems to be the last one to ever post cruiser related articles.
If only there were some kind of blog for cruiser fans…
On Yamaha’s site they are showing of the older Stars with their owners, they even use the word Transcontinental so I bet it’s going to be a big v twin cruiser and tourer. Their 1300 tourer v4 looked good in its day and the 1800 is a great sounding engine. Whatever they come up I’m sure it will be impressive. Wow, that 1300 was huge.
I predict the model name will be the Yamaha Star Journey.
Also, almost 40 comments already and no wise cracks about beaks or tank seams?
re: “almost 40 comments already and no wise cracks about beaks or tank seams?”
those comments are essentially “pic driven” and we need a pic, wait for it.
wait…
for…
it.
Q: what would help you journey farther…?
A: hip replacement.
It’s gonna be a V-twin. Video part 1 & 2 hint it. Part 3 suggests more touring amenities added.
Great videos – good marketing.
I had a Star 1300 Tourer that I sold when I bought my BMW R1200RT. I liked the Star very much; it was an excellent v-twin. The ergos did not (for me) support the kind of long-distance riding I like to do (frequent 500+ mile days), but for jaunts of less than 350 miles in a day it was great.
I hope the new bike is a hit. I like the Yamaha/Star v-twin products, and I would like to see the line remain successful for them.
all of the quotes in the 3 promo videos praising the virtues of the V Twin, one can most assuredly assume it’s going to be a Vtwin, with blue tooth, nav and reverse.
Four headlights wide, eh? Can it surpass the Gold Wing’s 933 pounds in the quest for a half-ton two wheeler?
If it comes in at this kind of big, as expected, are there enough Dwayne Johnson-types that can lift them off the side stand and ride them to make such a beast viable?
The BMW R1200CL is has 4 headlights on the fairing…its weighs in at 680 lbs. full of fluids…not too heavy for a “touring” bike. It sure lights up the road!
If you’re not strong enough to ride anymore, don’t whine about it.
Most of us have no problem lifting a Wing off the sidestand, or even the ground, with proper technique.
I hope it’s a tourer which a little more sporting DNA than a typical V twin land yacht. I believe Yamaha must have spent a lot of $$ developing the new Vmax mill a few years back. Maybe this bike will be a shaft drive 1800 cc GT tourer with some real comfort and sporting ability in the likes of the K1600GT.
I love my FJR but wifey doesn’t like it for long distance two-up work. She gives long looks to the comfortable GW passengers. I’m not ready for that yet.
now you’re talking
Yea my wife would want to ride passenger on a GW, but I’m not interested in piloting one.
Good on ya standing your ground! MGTOW.
Same here. Heck, I wouldn’t mind a Goldwing, but it is too big to be my only bike. FJR1300 might work, I just haven’t set her up for that yet..
I wonder if it will have a cassette player?
Good one! I removed the cassette player on my 2000 RSV and converted it into a “glove” box. Not that a pair a gloves would fit in it. I kept my kickstand plate in there.
No, I heard it will be an 8-track player! 🙂
I hope they have finally added a sixth gear and increased the fuel capacity by a couple of gallons. Maybe then I will think about looking at one.
Darn, I’m not going to be at Americade until the 7th. Perhaps one or more of these will make the demo fleet….
No demo rides…just a display in the demo area on Beach road.
Wouldn’t mind a proper touring rig a’la Goldwing reminiscent of the Venture, but I’m sure we’ll get another huge cruiser and maybe even a factory Trike! Hooray for cruisers!
Sigh, it even hurts to jokingly type that.
LOL. I do like the idea of a direct GW competitor to shake things up. An enormous trike-cruiser as you mentioned is more likely. Something in between a Rascal and a Slingshot for our diabetes-riddled, fat-assed, faded barb-wire tatoo-sporting, vaping, semi-literate, Trump-voting masses to ride on (without a helmet where allowed, of course).
My wife has diabetes and weighs 130lbs. What type of human being ridicules people with an illness.
Ok, I should have said type-2 diabetes. My bad.
She has has type 2 diabetes.
I developed Type 2 as a result of genetic predispositioning. Stereotype much?
Ok, I should have said, ‘preventative, lifestyle-driven conditions that drive up general cost of healthcare’. Sorry if I offended anyone…and yes the post was designed to poke fun at a stereotype that Japanese manufacturers must have when designing products for the American market. Just look what they did with the second-gen Scion Xb, a travesty
CrazyJoe, welcome to the internet.
He’s an Austinite.
What do you expect ?
In Dallas now, actually
I am fat and I have diabetes. I appreciated your heavy use of of irony and sarcasm in your post. I found it rather funny. Folks are just so serious these days and unable to appreciate it when someones uses their right to free speech. Enjoyed the post, keep them coming. Of course as we used to say if you can’t take a joke? Well you guys know the other part! Lol
Didn’t Yamaha dump Star and just start calling them Yamaha again?
Can somebody explain the idea behind the Star brand for me?
You can’t show up at your local biker bar riding rice.
Star fools ’em into thinking you’re not.
My answer to that has been not go to any biker bars. Whether it’s on rice, linguine or schnitzel, I’ve never been interested in closed-minded folks.
Yeah, “fitting in at the local biker bar” has never been one of my main goals in life…
That was my understanding; that Star no longer is marketed as a separate brand. Whether this bike is contrary to that, I don’t know.
I expect a retuned V Max 1700 to compete with the Wing and HD’s touring models. should be interesting.
I’m thinking it might be a 4 cylinder……..4 headlamps, 4 cylinders…..maybe a trend?? Do you think Yamaha is trying to compete with the Honda Goldwing….which probably means NOT a v-twin engine due to vibrations…..????
How about a 4 eyed Cruiser inspired by the FZ10 ?
How about dual FZ10 power – the first production 8-cyl. touring bike?
How ’bout an actual transforming robot FZ10?
Hoping it’s finally a new Yamaha Venture Royale with the new v-max engine!!
I could go farther on a 400 pound on-off road bike. I further suspect I’m not going to see one. Ever.
My wife is the wordsmith in our family, but I think when speaking of distance it is “farther”. I guess they’re shooting for stat of minds, which would be “further”
Hey, you get it.
This video is pointing to a bloviated cruiser, oh well, just what we needed another one…
Maybe it’s some new design where both headlights are on at the same time.
What? Two low beams on at the same time, you must be mad!
Yeah, it seems like when they resort to a teaser video it’s because they want to hype something that doesn’t deserve that much attention. Kawasaki H2 might be an exception.
I certainly hope this is something fresh. My opinion, the big 1900 v twin and aluminum frame (the Roadliner) built into a stylish and functional touring rig could be pretty trick. I agree they need to move out of derivative cruiser styling, but let’s not go full Victory space ship style on that weird touring bike they built. Maybe a frame mounted fairing affair along the lines of a Road Glide….oh, wait, that would be derivative. Sheeze, I don’t envy these product planners!!!
The idea that they are striving for something in the Star motorcycle brand division of Yamaha suggests to me that it may be another V-Twin iteration of a touring machine. Something that we don’t need. There is already the Harleys, the Kawasaki Voyager, the Indians, all V-twins. Even if it is a V-4, I hope they don’t style it after the cruiser genre. I’ve had just way too much of that.
Is that last pixelated gif with the multiple headlights the fairing on the new tourer?
My takeaway from this nothing little snotbubble of a teaser clip?
Man, cruiser riders and their spouses sure are fat.
I had the same thought, but not the guts (pun intended) to say it.
Of course, i am 6’4″, 175# with a newly discovered heart condition, so they’ll probably outlive me. irony.
My bike is a cruiser and I’m a 6’2″ 210 lb. triathlete. Wanna race?
That said, I’m not sure if the world needs another cruiser. Harley and Indian seem to have a wrap on that. Vulcan and Boulevard models miss the mark with radiators, and with the Boulevard, shaft drive.
I guess there is some pent up demand from Yamaha loyalists that are ready to move on from their v-stars and ‘liners, but if Yamaha comes in at $20k, that’s all the buyers they will get. They’ve already lost lot to Indian. If/when the third gear in my Stratoliner fails, I’m off to the Indian showroom.
Race what?
Motorcycles? Sure. Running? Sure. Bicycling? Sure. Swimming? I know that you’ll win that. I might win or lose the others, but I’m willing to give it a run (again, pun intended).
3hour, 20 minute marathoner, former cat III USCF racer (when there were only 4 categories), but i can’t swim except for sidestroke.
How about a tag team? My wife has swum the English channel (and she rides a cruiser).
Heart issue was discovered when I did crappy in a running race. First time ever finished outside top 25% of my age/gender group. Meds address the issue (for now), and WAY more speedwork on the track is addressing (slowly) lack of wind issues.
A good ticker is pretty critical. Getting old sucks.
You *definitely* sound like the average cruiser rider. In my experience, almost all of them look like triathletes…
Heh heh.
“I’m off to the Indian showroom.”
Did I not hear something recently that Polaris is now defunct? Would this not affect Indian?
Fat?! Really? There was more to the video than that.
Cruisers, toueres, standards, etc – its all good so long as it has two wheels. Even three, given the new reverse trikes.
It’s probably a repackaging of the old Royal Star V4 as a Goldwing competitor instead of a cruiser.
I really hate this “teaser” marketing, wherein you are enticed to wait for a product launch at a future date. It never works. There is a huge build-up, anticipation, and the final product almost always falls short of ramped up expectations. Ask Infiniti.
Agreed.
I love wind on the rice paddies.
They’re late to the party. If you don’t have your bike in showrooms by now, the best you can do is try to prevent buyers/intenders from pulling the trigger on a competitor’s bike until you do.
It has become critical nowadays. Only the earliest of early adopters pay anything close to full retail for anything besides BMWs anymore. And BMWs only because of financing, and because half their market (the lucrative one) is essentially captive, and only ever bothers setting foot in his local BMW showroom.
I dunno, bro. I ride a BMW and go into other dealers all the time.
re: “Only the earliest of early adopters pay anything close to full retail for anything besides BMWs anymore. And BMWs only because of financing, and because half their market (the lucrative one) is essentially captive, and only ever bothers setting foot in his local BMW showroom.”
(the “Stook-man” STICKS the landing)
NAILED IT…!!!